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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What was the first type of criticism Augustine suggests his work "On Christian Doctrine" would face?
(a) Criticism that his demands for linguistic studies were too exclusive.
(b) Criticism that his moral demands would be restricted to pagan converts.
(c) Criticism from those who cannot grasp his teaching.
(d) Criticism that blending Greek and Christian philosophies was heretical.

2. What does Augustine conclude are the only things that can be enjoyed?
(a) Only wisdom and Truth can be enjoyed.
(b) Only things that reveal Truth can be enjoyed.
(c) Only eternal and unchangeable things can be enjoyed.
(d) Only things that are used with special gifts to prove Truth can be enjoyed.

3. What are the two main tools that God uses to teach men what to do, as identified by Augustine?
(a) Wars and rumors of wars.
(b) Priests and Rabbis
(c) Angels and human communities.
(d) Scripture and nature.

4. According to Augustine, what are competing influences on an individual's thinking?
(a) Husbands and wives.
(b) The devil and angels.
(c) Priests and Rabbis.
(d) Laborers and land owners.

5. What are the three things that Augustine claims that interpretations of Scripture should build up?
(a) Special gifts, community, and signs.
(b) The inner eye, love, and illuminated truth.
(c) Hope, signs, and the inner eye.
(d) Faith, hope and love.

6. In Augustine's example, how can something used also be enjoyed?
(a) A friend with the special gift to cook a delicious meal can be enjoyed for their company.
(b) The shine and sturdiness of a pot or pan can be enjoyed.
(c) Friends who gather for community can enjoy the delicious meal.
(d) The community that develops for a delicious meal can be enjoyed.

7. What comes of loving oneself for reasons other than that which Augustine specified?
(a) It will result in loss of special gifts.
(b) It will prevent one from enjoying things of God.
(c) It will inhibit the ability to hear God's guiding.
(d) It leads to destruction.

8. What is the logical inconsistency of the critics that Augustine confronts in the Preface?
(a) If these critics believe that Scripture can only be learned through "special gifts," and God wants everyone to know scriptures, then why doesn't everyone have "special gifts"?
(b) If these critics believe learning only comes through the possession of "special gifts," why do they teach?
(c) If learning only comes through community, why does Scripture encourage separation for prayer?
(d) If these critics believe they need no training, why are they reviewing Augustine's works?

9. What is Augustine's perception of God's dispensation of "special gifts" of interpreting Scripture?
(a) That they precede periods of peace and prosperity.
(b) Dispensing of such gifts is atypical.
(c) That they follow periods of oppression of those seeking His blessings.
(d) That they follow miraculous events.

10. According to Augustine, how should a student be affected as he/she becomes proficient in interpreting Scripture?
(a) He/she will increase the love that one feels.
(b) He/she will help develop a student's teaching skill.
(c) He/she will help to apply the principles of community.
(d) He/she will help in developing an understanding of God's motivations.

11. In approaching this distinction, what is Augustine's first focus in Book One?
(a) On "special gifts."
(b) On things as things.
(c) On sins of omission.
(d) On original sin.

12. What are the three things Augustine identifies as how God inspires His children?
(a) His death, resurrection, and promise of return.
(b) The promise of His return, His illuminated truths, and signs.
(c) His illuminated truths, special gifts, and signs.
(d) Signs, things, and enjoyment.

13. What basic fact do the critics discussed in the Preface ignore by discounting teaching from Augustine and others?
(a) The fact that they learned important tools, such as the alphabet, from other humans.
(b) Many writers have intensely studied Scriptures and have left their impressions for their use.
(c) The works of writers closer to the time of the authors of Scripture are frequently incomplete, disjointed, and often unverifiable.
(d) Trial and error application often give non-Christians the opportunity to "mock God."

14. What does Augustine reason is the consequence to human teaching if learning comes from Divine gifts?
(a) That Divine gifts become the standard against which all teaching is measured.
(b) That human teaching becomes a validation of Divine gifts.
(c) That there is no point to human teaching if learning only comes through Divine gifts.
(d) That Divine gifts work as a validation of human teaching.

15. What is the first important distinction that Augustine makes in Book One?
(a) The distinction between discovering what Scripture teaches and communicating it.
(b) The distinction between the Christian conception of love and the pagan conception of love.
(c) The distinction between "enjoy" and "use."
(d) The distinction between learning and teaching.

Short Answer Questions

1. Upon what does Augustine focus most of his efforts in the Preface of "On Christian Doctrine"?

2. What does Augustine consider as God's typical means of delivering His illumination?

3. What was the third type of criticism that Augustine suggests "On Christian Doctrine" would face?

4. Why does Augustine expect the method of accessing knowledge he lacks to be successful?

5. What does Augustine encourage his critics to remember in the Preface?

(see the answer keys)

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